Bebe Akinboade

4 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS STICK IN 2015

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As the New Year
approaches, many people begin scrambling to list all the things they’re going
to do to make 2015 their best year ever. Despite the high hopes and good
intentions, however, most people fail to turn their New Year’s resolutions into
reality. The statistics on the chances you’ll maintain change are fairly
dismal. Most studies show resolutions begin to drop off after a week and only
about 40% of those who made resolutions actually stick to their goals. If
you’ve encountered difficulties following through with your goals, resolve to
make 2015 different.
No matter what your
goals are, here are the keys to making those New Year’s resolutions stick:
IDENTIFY YOUR
READINESS TO CHANGE
Sometimes, the
pressure to establish a New Year’s resolution makes people choose a goal before
they’re ready to commit. Although they may feel motivated initially, they
haven’t really thought about all the work their resolution entails. Thinking,
“I guess I should get healthier next year,” without committing to eating
healthy and exercising isn’t likely to bode well. Creating change is a process
; choosing to overhaul your behavior based on the date of the calendar, without
really being ready, will only set you up for failure.
There’s no reason
you need to take action on January 1. Rather than saying, “I’m going to quit
smoking cold turkey at midnight,” a more reasonable solution might be, “I’m
going to spend the month of January researching my options to quit.” This can
increase your motivation to quit, while also giving you time to create a plan
that you’ll be prepared to follow through with.
BELIEVE YOU CAN DO
IT
A lot of people try
to create change, despite a nagging voice in their heads that says, “This will
never work.” If your thoughts constantly drag you down and beat you up, your
chances of success are greatly diminished. You’ll likely talk yourself out of taking
action as soon as the going gets rough. Creating long-lasting change requires
confidence.
If you struggle
with self-doubt, write down all the evidence that suggests you’ll be able to
reach your goal. Read that list daily to affirm your strengths and reduce your
negative thinking. Learn to recognize and replace your irrational thoughts with
more productive and helpful monologues.

THINK
CONSTRUCTIVELY ABOUT SETBACKS
Almost every
behavioral change involves at least one or two setbacks. Whether it’s picking
up a cigarette or skipping a few workouts at the gym, most people backslide
occasionally. The way you respond to those setbacks, however, is what
determines the likelihood of reaching your goals.
If you convince
yourself you’re a complete failure after you make a mistake, you’ll likely kiss
your New Year’s Resolution goodbye. Sometimes, people mistakenly assume success
is all or nothing – “If I mess up once, I must be a failure.” If, however, you
anticipate setbacks, and only view them as temporary, you’ll increase the
chances that you’ll successfully learn from your mistakes.
BUILD YOUR MENTAL
STRENGTH
For many people,
New Year’s resolutions focus on tangible changes – like losing weight, paying
off debt, or quitting smoking. Although tangible – and measurable – goals are
important, it’s impossible to reach those goals without mental strength.
No matter what your
goals are, building mental strength will help you reach them. Just like
physical strength requires ongoing exercise, so does mental strength. Commit to
building your mental muscle by conducting daily exercises that will help you
get stronger. Increasing your mental strength will help you follow through with
your goals, even as your motivation declines – which, for many people, is
mid-January.
Rather than spend
all your time thinking about what your resolution will be, focus on the
strategies that will help you stay on track. Decide to make 2015 about creating
a new you, complete with a plan that will help you stick to your goals
throughout the year.
Source:
www.forbes.com
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